This is a list of state parks and reserves in the Connecticut state park system, shown in four tables. Where to swim: Housatonic River (guarded), Indian Falls (unguarded) Click through the slideshow to see the top swimming sites in Connecticut State … After hours of searching the day before, dive teams and first responders were back out scouring the river Thursday for the 21- and 24-year-old New York men, who went missing Wednesday while swimming in the Housatonic River. [31][32] High mercury levels are measured in the sediment at the outflow delta of the Housatonic River into Long Island Sound.[33]. We are also involved in facilitating the acquisition of land for affordable housing. While its a little bit of a drive (25 minutes from Great Barrington ) the swimming hole near the Sandisfield Town Hall on Rte 57 is well worth a visit on a hot day. Bring a picnic to enjoy, or head down Route 110/Howe Avenue into Shelton for brunch or lunch at Center Street Social. g a south to ... With over 100,00 acre0 s of public recreation land throughou thte watershed, opportunities for swimming, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, sculling, boating, hiking, camping and cross-country skiing abound Th. There are several minor and major dams along the river that form lakes. [5], The river has been a source of power for paper, iron, textiles, and electricity industries. Many species of aquatic life and wildlife in the Housatonic River ecosystem are at an intermediate to high risk from their exposure to PCBs in both the river and floodplain. The tidal section of the Housatonic River is a 7-mile stretch of brackish water, which feeds into Long Island Sound along the shores of the towns of Stratford and Milford. The United States Navy named a ship for the Housatonic River. CAMA is an all-volunteer organization. [3] The Housatonic rises from four sources in far western Massachusetts in the Berkshire Mountains near the city of Pittsfield. Boston, MA. The Housatonic River is also a popular fly fishing destination. Tekoa, in Russell, MA, to the Lee/Lenox town line in Berkshire County, the Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway winds through the small towns of Russell, Huntington, Chester, Becket and Lee, providing views of the Wild and Scenic Westfield River along the way. Highly contaminated soil would be removed and shipped to federally-approved facilities outside the state, while less-contaminated soil would be placed in a new specially-designed landfill in Berkshire County. Police said they have recovered the bodies of two New York men who they believe drowned while swimming last week in the Housatonic River in … 1 of 6 Xaviel Saez, 5, of Fairfield, unwinds in the Housatonic River Tuesday, May 27, 2014, while spending the afternoon with his family at Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Conn. The town of Stockbridge is located in southwestern Massachusetts. [5] At Great Barrington, a grist mill built by David Ingersoll in 1739 used the river for power. Fishing is a major activity along the entire length of the river and its tributaries. The highest concentrations of PCBs in the Housatonic River are found in Woods Pond in Lenox, Massachusetts, just south of Pittsfield, where they have been measured up to 110 mg/kg in the sediment. Most notable are two lakes in Connecticut, Lake Zoar, which borders Monroe, Newtown, Oxford, and Southbury, and Lake Lillinonah. Exhibitors are welcome to bring their antiques […]. [24], Birds, such as ducks, and fish that live in and around the river contain significant levels of PCBs and can present health risks if consumed. For detailed information on paddling time and distance between access points, paddling conditions/terrain, location of dams, portaging spots and driving directions to access sites, visit HVA website….www.hvatoday.org, Fred Garner Park Access – Pomeroy Ave., Pittsfield, Decker Landing Access – New Lenox Rd., Lenox, Woods Pond Bridge Access – Crystal St., Lenoxdale, Lee Athletic Field Access – Housatonic St., Lee, Sheffield Covered Bridge – Route 7, Sheffield, A COMPLETE RIVER ACCESS GUIDE CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM… http://www.hvatoday.org/publications/BerkshirePaddleGuide.pdf, For information on the Massachusetts sections of the Housatonic River…, Housatonic Valley Association High above the confluence with the Housatonic, in the village of Mill River, the Konkapot rolls over an outcropping of bedrock and into a crystal-clear pool below to form Umpachene Falls. Whether you enjoy fishing, hunting, watersking, birdwatching, kayaking, bicycling, hiking, picnicing or swimming the river has something to offer everyone. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the Pittsfield plant and several miles of the Housatonic as a Superfund site in 1997, and ordered GE to remediate the site. Box 251, South Lee, Mass 01260 Mount Greylock State Reservation became Massachusetts’ first wilderness state park in 1898, to preserve its natural environment for public enjoyment. ON THE WATER Join us for a unique experience offering unparalleled panoramic views of the states skyline, and many of the area's most famous landmarks. The Housatonic River (/ˌhuːsəˈtɒnɪk/ HOOS-ə-TON-ik) is a river, approximately 149 miles (240 km) long,[3][4] in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. Further south, high on the Berkshire Plateau, the Buck River makes its way southeastward and connects with the Farmington River. [5], The river's name is derived from the Mohican phrase "usi-a-di-en-uk", translated as "beyond the mountain place" or "river of the mountain place". The USS Housatonic has the distinction of being the first ship in history to be sunk by a submarine, the Confederate vessel CSS H.L. In the 21st century, the mercury remains in the river sediment and flows downstream, especially during storm events. In February 2020 EPA announced a settlement agreement involving GE, EPA and most of the concerned parties, to remove contaminated sediment from the river. The scenic Housatonic River is an integral part of Shelton's history and identity. Similar risks extend to species beyond those specifically evaluated. Box 496 14 Main Street Stockbridge, MA 01262 T: (413) 298-7024 www.hvatoday.org The Housatonic Valley Association, founded in 1941, works to conserve the natural character and environmental health of our communities […], Audubon Sharon, consisting of the Sharon Audubon Center and Emily Winthrop Miles Wildlife Sanctuary, has been connecting people with nature for over forty years. Do not climb up or along the side of waterfalls. It is wild and rugged, yet accessible to visitors for hiking, camping, and overnight meals & lodging at […], Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway–From the rocky heights of Mt. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. Summer's almost here and this will be one of the last summers home for me. The Naugatuck River is the Housatonic's largest tributary with a contributing watershed of 312 square miles (810 km2).[3]. There is an American nuclear weapon test of the same name, although it is not known if the name originated from the river or some other source. The best way to learn more about the river and specific pools is to fish with one of our experienced guides . [18] Aroclor 1254 and Aroclor 1260, made by Monsanto, was a primary contaminant of the pollution in the Housatonic River. [11], The river passes through land that was formerly occupied primarily by native people of Algonquian lineage, typically living in villages of two to three hundred families housed in hide wigwams. It flows south to southeast, and drains about 1,950 square miles (5,100 km2) of southwestern Connecticut into Long Island Sound. There are 1,007,400 acres encompassing the Housatonic River watershed. [19] Former filled oxbows are also polluted. Protects The Housatonic River & Its Watershed Housatonic Valley Association P.O. This section of the river offers anglers a wide variety of target species to chase and has recently gained recognition as a world class, year round Striped Bass Fishery. A Trustees of Reservations property located on Goose Pond. Mission To conserve, restore and promote the Farmill River and its waterways as a valued resource for the communities and cities that surround it, through research, education, and public awareness campaigns. Emergency crews will continue the search for two men missing after swimming in the Housatonic River in New Milford. Historically, the Housatonic River and its Naugatuck River tributary hosted the southernmost spawning runs of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Housatonic Valley Association. Five dams impound the river in Connecticut to produce hydroelectricity: the Falls Village, Bulls Bridge, Shepaug, Stevenson and Derby dams. [8] Prior to the 18th century, the river was alternatively known as the Pootatuck River. A deadly and extreme Class VI resides at Great Falls in Canaan (Falls Village) and is most likely not able to be paddled. We have been fishing the Housatonic River and Long Island sound for over 20 years Stretching 149 miles from its source in the Berkshires south to Long Island Sound, the Housatonic watershed encompasses the “mainstem” river itself, along with dozens of tributaries, streams, lakes and […] EPA and GE began a cleanup of the area in 1999. Box 28 , Cornwall Bridge, Conn 06754 [19] About 50% of all the PCBs currently in the river are estimated to be retained in the sediment behind Woods Pond dam. The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Exists To Illuminate The Diverse, Rich Identity Of The Upper Housatonic River Valley Region & To Preserve & Promote Its Historical, Cultural & Natural Resources. The river's total fall is 1,430 feet (440 m) (959 feet (292 m) from the confluence of its east and west branches) to Long Island Sound. 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